William Bergsma

April 1, 1921: William Laurence Bergsma is born in Oakland, California, USA, the son of William Joseph Bergsma and Helen Margaret Doepfner.

June 22, 1939: Paul Bunyan, a ballet by William Bergsma (18), is performed for the first time, in San Francisco.

May 1, 1942: Gold and the Señor Commandante, a ballet by William Bergsma (21), is performed for the first time, in Rochester, New York.

April 14, 1946: The John Simon Guggenheim Foundation fellowships are announced, including ones for Henry D. Brant (32), William Bergsma (25), and Gian Carlo Menotti (34).

May 20, 1950: Symphony no.1 by William Bergsma (29) is performed for the first time, on a radio broadcast originating in New York.

October 30, 1954: Two new works for orchestra are performed for the first time, in Louisville: Euphony by Robert Ward (37), and A Carol on Twelfth Night by William Bergsma (33).

February 15, 1956: The Wife of Martin Guerre, an opera by William Bergsma (34) to words of Lewis, is performed for the first time, in New York.

April 14, 1961: Performance, a ballet created by José Limón, is performed for the first time, at the Juilliard School, New York. It is a theme and variations composed by members of the school’s faculty. President William Schuman (60) composed the theme, with variations written by Hugh Aitken, William Bergsma (40), Jacob Druckman (32), Vittorio Giannini, Norman Lloyd, Vincent Persichetti (45), Robert Starer, and Hugo Weisgall (48).

September 28, 1962: Toccata for the Sixth Day by William Bergsma (41) is performed for the first time, at Lincoln Center, New York.

December 17, 1964: Documentary One for orchestra by William Bergsma (43) is performed for the first time, in Honolulu.

August 22, 1965: Serenade to Await the Moon for chamber orchestra by William Bergsma (44) is performed for the first time, in Sherwood Hall, La Jolla, California.

May 18, 1966: Concerto for violin and orchestra by William Bergsma (45) is performed for the first time, in Tacoma, Washington the composer conducting.

May 24, 1967: George Crumb (37), Donald Martino (36), and Charles Wuorinen (28) each receive $2,500 grants from the National Institute of Arts and Letters. Robert Ward (49), William Bergsma (46), and Gunther Schuller (41) are inducted into the Institute.

March 14, 1968: The Sun, the Soaring Eagle, the Turquoise Prince, the God, a cantata for chorus, brass, and percussion by William Bergsma (47), is performed for the first time, in Tacoma, Washington.

April 1, 1971: String Quartet no.4 by William Bergsma is performed for the first time, at the University of Alabama on the composer’s 50th birthday.

May 24, 1971: Changes for woodwind quintet and orchestra by William Bergsma (50) is performed for the first time, in Seattle.

May 21, 1975: In Space for soprano and instrumental ensemble by William Bergsma (54) is performed for the first time, in Meany Hall, Studio Theatre, Seattle.

May 28, 1975: Wishes, Wonders, Portents, Charms for chorus by William Bergsma (54) is performed for the first time, in Lincoln Center, New York.

May 11, 1976: Symphony no.2 “Voyages” by William Bergsma (55) is performed for the first time, in Great Falls, Montana.

April 10, 1978: Sweet Was the Song the Virgin Sung: Tristan Revisited for viola and orchestra by William Bergsma (57) is performed for the first time, in Seattle.

April 10, 1986: The Murder of Comrade Sharik, an opera by William Bergsma (65) to his own words after Bulgakov, is performed for the first time, in Brooklyn.